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Subversion source control question

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:40 am
by KDSTechwriter
Hello,
I've just started using Flare V4.2. I am going to have to integrate my source files into our source control system called SubVersion. Are there any particular recommandations we need to know before doing that? I don't have a particular big project (around 22 topics, some images and some contextual topics) but we are going to have a translation of the project into 11 languages.
Will I need to use the Flare integrated source control feature or will I just be using the subversion features when I will be checking in and out.? What are the advantages of using the Flare source control feature?
Thanks

Re: Questions on Using Flare and Source Control

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:02 pm
by KevinDAmery
Flare's source control integration isn't a stand-alone source control: instead, it allows you to hook into source control systems that use Microsoft's API. This includes Visual Source Safe and Team Foundation Server, as well others through the use of plugins (for example, there is one from Pushok that works with CVS: I'm not sure if it works with Subversion or not).

As far as using Subversion or using Flare's system, the key feature of the Flare integration is that you can check files in or out of the source control directly within Flare (so you don't have to use the source control client software). The upshot is that if you don't feel you need to check in/out from within Flare itself, you don't need to use the integration features.

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 6:24 pm
by doc_guy
[Moderator note: I split this topic from the master thread for organizational purposes. Please use this thread for continued discussion of this topic.]

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 6:55 am
by DianeP5001
I tried to get the Subversion plugin from pushok, but it was way too confusing to get it going. I tried to work directly from subversion, but kept hitting issues. For now, I'm just copying and pasting my source files into subversion. I can publish directly to subversion and then commit in subversion so that piece works correctly.

It would be nice if MadCap would offer a direct integration with subversion instead of making us hunt down and try to get a third-party add-in working.

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 9:39 am
by nfberg
Subversion has been a royal PITA.

We are a very small shop of 3 users, one Windows, one Mac and one Linux and we use a lot of open source products. SVN 1.5.x is the package of choice and Flare does not play nicely with it. Being the only one that uses Flare what I've resorted to is saving locally and then when I've completed a Topic checking that in using TortoiseSVN through Windows Explorer.

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:35 pm
by Richard Ferrell
I have seen and heard of many clients that have used the PushOK plug in with Flare, But your mileage may vary.

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:44 am
by jblackwood
I started a month or so ago exploring using the PushOK plugin. Our company is moving to Subversion for source control. I cannot seem to get the plugin configured properly. Has anyone been able to do an Import from Source Control using the PushOK SVN SCC plug in successfully? If so, any help that you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Alos Are there any other plug ins that anyone has used successfully for Subversion (SVN)? PushOK only has trail period, right? So after that period is up, do I have to pay?

Thanks!
Jeff

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:08 am
by doc_guy
getting PushOK's product working for me was a challenge. I don't remember exactly how I did it, but I know that when I've created a new project, it is easier than trying to bind to an existing project.

In any case, I've gotten it working and it works pretty good for me.

Yes, the PushOK product has a trial period. Then you have to pay. It costs less than $30 for the license, and one license can be used on three machines (according to them). I actually bought a second license for a second machine because I appreciate the plugin, and it isn't a lot of money for a plugin, in my opinion.

I'm not sure I can describe how I got it working. I just fiddled a lot to make it work. But I did get it working.

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:45 am
by jblackwood
doc_guy wrote:getting PushOK's product working for me was a challenge. I don't remember exactly how I did it, but I know that when I've created a new project, it is easier than trying to bind to an existing project.

In any case, I've gotten it working and it works pretty good for me.

Yes, the PushOK product has a trial period. Then you have to pay. It costs less than $30 for the license, and one license can be used on three machines (according to them). I actually bought a second license for a second machine because I appreciate the plugin, and it isn't a lot of money for a plugin, in my opinion.

I'm not sure I can describe how I got it working. I just fiddled a lot to make it work. But I did get it working.
Thanks for the reply. I'll mess with it a little to see. I can tell I'm going to miss TFS. I also heard about TamTam SVN SCC which I am planning on testing as well.

Jeff

Re: Subversion source control = 'Too hard" basket

Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 6:30 pm
by Skooter
Here's a response I got after reporting problems using Lingo (from a project created in Flare which is under Subversion/Tortoise SVN source control) - the problem being you have to manually strip out all the (supposedly hidden) .svn folders:

"Thank you for contacting MadCap Support. Lingo does not support any type of Source Control. If you have a Flare project bound to Source Control and you create a Lingo project of it, the .svn files might get copied into the Lingo project. Unfortunately, there is no way to ignore these files as Lingo does not support any type of Source Control."
mmmm...

Re: Subversion source control question - using PushOK

Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2010 5:09 am
by colin_froggatt
We have been having using PushOk for a few months now and have just stopped using it. We had initial problems when binding to an existing project - we had to checkout with another tool and then point Flare at it. Then it seemed Ok as our Tech Author was just modifying existing content. However, we have recently started a new project and I just spent a day recovering mangled files. Basically, as soon as you need to move or rename stuff it starts to get really clunky and leaves temp files around. Sometimes the temp files are removed from the file system but Flare does not sync with the FS regularly and so they continue to appear int he content list until you restart. Then stuff got moved while it was checked out and that was game over. A day later for two people and we have recovered most files using a combination or Tortoise and Eclipse/SVN. Strangely enough, our tech author is no longer that keen on source controlling her stuff!

So, back to network drives and nightly backups!

Colin.

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:03 pm
by Andrew
I've been messing with SVN and Tortoise a bit. They seem to work if you simply take your entire project folder (exclude the Analyzer and Output folders), check it out, and simply push updates as you make them. It seems to pick up all the changed files, etc. if I move topics around in Flare.

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 6:56 am
by Graham Campbell
jblackwood wrote:I started a month or so ago exploring using the PushOK plugin. Our company is moving to Subversion for source control. I cannot seem to get the plugin configured properly. Has anyone been able to do an Import from Source Control using the PushOK SVN SCC plug in successfully? If so, any help that you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Alos Are there any other plug ins that anyone has used successfully for Subversion (SVN)? PushOK only has trail period, right? So after that period is up, do I have to pay?

Thanks!
Jeff
Hi Jeff,

See my post here: http://forums.madcapsoftware.com/viewto ... 68&t=10401

It's a short but detailed walkthrough on configuring PushOK to work with your projects. As suggested already in this thread, your mileage may vary - I'm having trouble myself this week, but only because we've just upgraded to Flare 6. Flare 5 and earlier should be fine though.

Hope it helps.

Graham

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 10:44 am
by jblackwood
Thanks Graham! I used Flare v5.01 and PushOk SVN SCC plug-in version 1.6.3.1. I went through all the steps, and it appeared that the bind went fine. However, when I look in the TortoiseSVN Repo-browser afterward my project folder is empty. In Flare, all my files show as "Pending Add." Should I have to add them or did I do something wrong along the way. I thought the bind would do that automatically.

Thanks!
Jeff

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 7:49 am
by Graham Campbell
Jeff,

To my knowledge all the bind does is tell Flare where in SVN the repository is and the name of the module for the project you are currently work on.

I'd recommend adding everything from within Flare yourself. I do this by selecting all the files (including stylesheets and other project-critical files) in the Pending Check-Ins pane (View > Pending Check-Ins). Right-click anywhere on the selected files and choose Source Control > Add.

You should see a bit of activity as Push OK and Flare speak to your Tortoise SVN client and then, ideally, all your files will be checked in.

Hope that helps you.

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 6:07 am
by jblackwood
Thanks, Graham. Your instructions and help has been great. I am getting inconsistent results as I try to test the plug-ins. I will keep working at it. Thanks again!

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Mon Aug 02, 2010 9:56 am
by SDerrick
Hi, Graham. I was just searching for info on using Subversion with Flare and came across this thread. You mentioned having some difficulties when you upgraded to Flare 6.0. Did you get those worked out? I have an existing 6.0 project that I need to added to Subversion. I didn't really expect to get integrated support but obviously would be tickled if it works.

Also, whether I get the integrated support or do manual check-ins, I will have to either add a layer to the directory path or rename the Flare project folder. What is that going to do my Flare project? Can I simply change the Location field in the Project Properties? I'm assuming my internal links won't be affected as they (hopefully) don't use directories that high up the stack.


Thanks
Sally

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 7:58 pm
by daz
Flare v6.1 has fixed the issue with Flare and Subversion. I just tested Flare v6.1 with Subversion 1.4 using the PushOk SVN plugin and it seems to work perfectly.

Re: Subversion source control question

Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2010 9:04 am
by Graham Campbell
Daz, glad you're seeing the same results as me. 6.1 is required in order to get this working correctly.

SDerrick, if you've got 6.1 I'm hopeful that it's all started to work you as well. As for your other query, I can confirm that I have successfully moved projects around in my SVN repositories and then merely updated the SVN binding details in the Project Properties dialog box by clicking Bind Project and having Flare reconfirm both the path and repository name.

Of course your project's internal structure shouldn't be affected at all by this if merely the path to your source files in SVN has changed.